My doctor was injecting sculptra and the needle kept getting clogged. I didn't think anything of it at the time. Any suggestion?

Question

I didn't think anything of it at the time but it's been 5 months with absolutely no change from before the procedure. My before and after pics are exactly the same. He said he would re-do the procedure at no charge but I don't want to risk doing it again with no results. Ive had sculptra once before with great results. I'm not sure how to proceed. Thanks in advance for any help.

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

I would not use the clogging of the needle as a reason not to have faith in Sculptra.  Like any procedure, however, your results will be dependent on who your injector is and what experience level they have.  Sculptra is usually in the hands of more experienced injectors who have a broad comfort level with the traditional fillers.  Also not all injectors or patients want to wait for the collagen stimulation that is needed for Sculptra to show its effect.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Needle clogging is a well known problem when injecting Sculptra, but does not impact on the ultimate aesthetic result. I used to use Sculptra in the past, but am no  longer much of a fan of it, but not because of the needle clogging issue.. Sculptra does NOT yield immediate results and typically requires a series of treatments to ultimately achieve a volumizing effect. So, it simply might be that you need additional treatment sessions, which is the usual route for Sculptra. In my Upper East Side Manhattan practice, I prefer to inject the new volumizing fillers, such as Voluma XC (or even Radiesse Plus), since they yield immediate, on the spot, gratifying results and ALSO are biostimulatory agents, meaning that, like Sculptra, they also possess the ability to stimulate new, native collagen production (neocollagenesis). What's more, typically only one treatment session is required to obtain a result that may last up to two years (very much the same as Sculptra).In my Israel satellite facility, where a far greater number of regulatory agency approved fillers and volumizers are available I usually opt for Emervel Volume, Stylage XXL and Teosyal Ultra Deep for my volumizing purposes.

Mike Majmundar, MD · Answer

Sculptra is one of the best drugs on the market for facial rejuvenation.  During the treatment process, the syringe and needle can experience some clogging but this is not from the active ingredient in the medication.  Clogging is not associated with Sculptra result and is more a nuisance for your doctor than for you.  Sculptra is a stimulating agent for collagen and requires multiple treatments usually over a 2-3 month period and as a person ages, more product is usually needed for the same result.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Physicians may use different sized needles when injecting Sculptra, but it is possible that the needle may clog.  This issue should not affect the results of the Sculptra treatment however.  Since Sculptra is a stimulating agent, normally several treatment sessions need to be done to get the desired result.  The most common reason for not seeing results is that not enough treatment sessions were performed.  Since you state that you saw good results from Sculptra in the past, I would consider having another treatment to give you further benefit.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

Sculptra is a fantastic product and yields long-lasting results.  With Sculptra you have to have patience because it can take several treatments to achieve the best results.  After each vial it can take 4 to 6 weeks to see the results of the injections since it is not an immediate filler - but rather activates the body's own collagen.  The results are fabulous and can last for two years.  The clogging of the needle that you are describing can be from various technical reasons ranging from the mixing or dilution of the product.  Voluma may be a better choice for you if you want an immediate lift in that area.  For the best cosmetic results please consult a board certified dermatologist with experience with Sculptra and cosmetic facial injections.

My doctor was injecting sculptra and the needle kept getting clogged. I didn't think anything of it at the time. Any suggestion?

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